Former Member of the Delta State House of Assembly and ex-Commissioner, Hon. Misan Ukubeyinje, Esq., has applauded Governor Sheriff Oborevwori of Delta State for his bold stance in urging the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) to revive the Warri and koko Port and other neglected seaports across the country. Ukubeyinje, who is also a former Executive Assistant to the Governor on Political Matters, described the governor’s intervention as timely and in the best interest of Nigeria’s economic decentralisation.
According to Hon. Ukubeyinje, the over-concentration of port activities in Lagos—particularly Apapa and Tin Can Island Ports—has led to serious congestion, logistics delays, and economic imbalance. He emphasized that once-thriving ports such as Warri, Koko, and Calabar have been left dormant due to what he termed a "political hijack" of import and export operations by Lagos-based interests.
He stated that revamping and operationalizing ports in other regions, especially in the South-South and South-East, would not only boost regional economic activities but also reduce the pressure on Lagos infrastructure and roads. "Haulage costs for importers in the eastern region will become cheaper and transit time faster," he noted.
Hon. Ukubeyinje criticized the continued neglect of these alternative ports as counterproductive and a disservice to national economic growth. He described the current situation as unfair and warned that NPA must rise above primordial sentiments to ensure balanced economic opportunities across Nigeria.
He joined Governor Oborevwori and other well-meaning Nigerians in calling on the Federal Government and President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to prioritize the reactivation and full modernization of Warri and Koko Ports, stating that it would serve the wider interest of Nigerians and enhance the overall economy.